UCCS BASEBALL SEASON IN-REVIEW

• The Mountain Lions enjoyed their best season in the program history in 2026, winning a record 33 games while setting numerous season and individual records during the spring season.
• UCCS Baseball had a mixed bag of results to start their season, with the Mountain Lions holding an even record at 3-3 through the first two series, having dropped two of three to start against Fort Hays State, before flipping the script to take two of three against Minnesota Crookston.
• The next two weeks kept the Mountain Lions at .500, as they swept Jamestown University at home, before hitting the road to fall in four contests at Chico State. The final four non-conference games were back at home, against conference foes with #25 MSU Denver and Regis waiting to welcome UCCS home. The Mountain Lions took out their displeasure after being swept for the first time on the year, dispatching MSU Denver in all three meetings, before polishing off the non-conference schedule with a come-from-behind thriller win over Regis to head into RMAC play at 11-7.
• The Mountain Lions continued their momentum into the conference schedule, as they won their first seven conference games with a sweep of Colorado Christian, then winning the first three games in the four-game set with Regis at home. The win streak would end when the series finale with the Rangers was suspended due to darkness tied at 16-16, giving each team a draw, the first in UCCS Baseball history.
• The Mountain Lions extended their unbeaten streak to 16 games with a road sweep over Adams State in Alamosa but were finally downed with a game one loss to New Mexico Highlands back at home. UCCS bounced back to take the final three games over NMHU, improving to 25-8-1 as they enjoyed their bye week from RMAC play.
• The Mountain Lions had their work cut out for them as they returned to action after the break, as they hit the road to Grand Junction for a four-game series with #1 ranked Colorado Mesa, who handed UCCS their second sweep of the season.
• The Mountain Lions would return home for their final homestand of the season, with four games against Colorado School of Mines, and four games against MSU Denver set to finish the home schedule. The Mountain Lions got back to their winning ways, with a sweep of the Orediggers, setting up a battle for the second seed with MSU Denver the following weekend.
• The Roadrunners would defend their position in the standings as they took three of four from UCCS in Colorado Springs, as the Mountain Lions prepared for their final series of the season.
• UCCS headed south for the final regular season series, as CSU Pueblo was the final foe for UCCS before the postseason. The Mountain Lions and ThunderWolves split the series, trading wins from game to game, as UCCS qualified for the postseason as the third best team in the RMAC with a 21-10-1 conference record.
• The Mountain Lions appeared in the conference postseason tournament for the second consecutive season, picking up their first postseason wins since 2022 when they downed CSU Pueblo 15-3 in the first round. The Mountain Lions went on to drop their final two games as they faltered against MSU Denver (2-7) and Colorado Mesa (4-11) in the quarterfinal and elimination contests, as their season came to an end in Grand Junction.

AWARD WINNERS
The 2026 season showcased 20 different Mountain Lions earning accolades throughout the year: 

• Bryce Peterson: NCBWA All-America First Team, D2CCA All-America First Team, ABCA All-America First Team, NCBWA All-Region First Team, D2CCA All-Region First Team, ABCA All-Region First Team, All-RMAC First Team, CSC Academic All-District, RMAC All-Academic First Team
• Trevor Dale: UCCS Male Athlete of the Year, NCBWA All-America First Team, D2CCA All-America First Team, ABCA All-America First Team, NCBWA All-Region First Team, D2CCA All-Region First Team, ABCA All-Region First Team, All-RMAC First Team, Three Time RMAC Player of the Week (February 3, 17, April 21)
• Tyler Genrich: RMAC Baseball Championships All-Tournament Team, All-RMAC Second Team, RMAC Player of the Week (March 3)
• Ryder Mancuso: CSC Academic All-District, RMAC All-Academic First Team, All-RMAC Second Team, RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll, RMAC Pitcher of the Week (March 10) Preseason All-RMAC Team
• Gerrit Erickson: RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll, RMAC Gold Glove Pitcher, Two Time RMAC Pitcher of the Week (February 3, March 24)
• Brendan Killeen: RMAC Player of the Week (March 17)
• Quinn Medin: RMAC Gold Glove
• Devon Alvarado: RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll
• Jacob Brown: RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll
• Tyler Buchman: RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll
• Jason Fink: RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll
• Spencer Gallimore: RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll
• James Harbison: RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll
• Joe McDermott: RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll
• Nick Miszuk: RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll
• Benjamin Ruckman: RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll
• Matthew Shipley: RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll
• Ethan Steer: RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll
• Brett Woytek: RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll
• Joshua Zotto: RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll

STATISTICAL LEADERS

• Bryce Peterson helped pace the Mountain Lions offensively this season as he led the team in at-bats (215), Hits (92), Doubles (20), and average (.423).
• Trevor Dale provided the power at the plate, blasting a program record 27 home runs, which also led Division II hitters through the regular season, checking in second in all of NCAA Baseball prior to playoff action. Dale led the team in Runs (72), Triples (6), Total Bases (175), Slugging Percentage (.946), Walks (32), and OPS (1.423).
• Jason Fink (7.62) and Gerrit Erickson (7.92) finished the season as the qualified leaders on the pitching staff in earned run average. Erickson led the staff in wins with six, as the Mountain Lions four qualified pitchers (Fink, Erickson, Ryder Mancuso, Jacob Brown) finished the season with a combined record of 17-12. Brown owned the best record on staff going 4-1, as Mancuso led the way in Innings Pitched (68.2) and Strikeouts (58).
• James Harbison was the Mountain Lions go-to arm out of the pen, making 12 relief appearances, going 3-0. In 19.2 innings, Harbison had a 6.41 ERA with a 1.63 WHIP and one save. Liam Whalen anchored the pen, finishing with a 1-1 record, and led the staff with four saves on the season.
• Quinn Medin, Gerrit Erickson, and Tyson Mayberry were the only players that turned in perfect defensive campaigns among players with 20+ chances. Medin took the crown defensively, errorless with 83 putouts in as many chances as the Mountain Lions Center Fielder.

HOT TAKES

• UCCS set a new record in 2026 with 33 wins on the season.
• Ryder Mancuso became the first pitcher to strike out 50 or more batters in consecutive seasons in Mountain Lion Baseball history. He joins Colin Cicere, and Daniel Silva as the only pitchers to fan 50+ hitters in multiple seasons in program history.
• Trevor Dale enjoyed the best power hitting season by any player in program history, blasting a program best and DII leading 27 home runs. His .946 slugging percentage is tops in UCCS Baseball history, also leading in runs scored (72), Triples (6), Total Bases (175), and Walks (31).
• Bryce Peterson's 92 hits shattered the previous program record of 76, which was also topped this season by Tyler Genrich (77). Peterson also set a program mark in at-bats (215) as he became the second player in program history to not be caught stealing in a season.
• UCCS set nine offensive team records this season, with new program bests in batting average (.356), Slugging Percentage (.617), On Base Percentage (.442), Runs Scored (538), Hits (641), Home Runs (108), Runs Batted In (488), Total Bases (1,111), and Walks (242).

SOCIAL
Twitter - @GoMountainLions 
Instagram - @gomountainlions  
Facebook – Go Mountain Lions 
  
As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs competes in 14 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.